Rain X Online application

[washnshine]

I would like to add Rain X to my top package and wanted to know if there were any compatibility issues using this product with another company's sealer/drying agent. As I understand it from this website:

http://theadvancedgroupinc.com/systems/index.php?Page=Rainx -

you should still follow up the Rain X with a sealer/DA. Since I am not using the complete Ecolab line, I wanted to know if anyone knew of any adverse effects putting on another brand DA after Rain X.


My current sealer/DA - it functions as both, is Bead Up by Diamond Shine. It is a pretty standard high beading chemical containing mso.

Anyone else using Rain X, but not their complete chemical line? Any issues with the chemicals?

 

[dewey9876]

I would like to add Rain X to my top package and wanted to know if there were any compatibility issues using this product with another company's sealer/drying agent. As I understand it from this website:

http://theadvancedgroupinc.com/systems/index.php?Page=Rainx -

you should still follow up the Rain X with a sealer/DA. Since I am not using the complete Ecolab line, I wanted to know if anyone knew of any adverse effects putting on another brand DA after Rain X.


My current sealer/DA - it functions as both, is Bead Up by Diamond Shine. It is a pretty standard high beading chemical containing mso.

Anyone else using Rain X, but not their complete chemical line? Any issues with the chemicals?

I use Qual-Chem for all my other chemicals. No issues at all - Works great

 

[Earl Weiss]

No issues for me.

 

[washnshine]

Thank you. So you are doing the Rain X first, then the sealer/DA - right?

 

[robert roman]

Bead Up contains;

Butoxyethanol – is butyl ether of ethylene glycol. This stuff is a relatively nonvolatile, inexpensive solvent with modest surfactant properties
Quaternary ammonium compound – this is “ammonia” used in acid cleaner formulations
Mineral seal oil – hydro-treated middle grade distillates of petroleum
Isopropanol - IPA is one of the most widely used solvents

Rain-X online contains;

Butoxyethanol
Acetic acid – is weak acid. Vinegar is roughly 8% of acetic acid by volume making it the main component of vinegar apart from water
1-Propanaminium, 3-amino-N-(carboxymethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-, N-coco acyl derivatives, inner salts – amino salt used as surfactant in liquid soaps (imparts smoothness to surface)
Proprietary formulation of quaternary ammonium compound

Bead up produces beading effects two ways.

1) When a solution is dispensed from an arch the drops have a negative charge. When the drops make contact with surface their charge changes the contact angle of the surface.

2) Oil mineral has a contact angle of about 80. Contact angle for most car wax is 90 degrees, Teflon is 95 degrees and Rain-X online is 110 degrees.

Consider what goes on before drying agent or clearcoat

Tri-foam – contains foam surfactant, wax or acid and ethanol surfactant

Clearcoat – most products today contain polymers and detergent range alcohol

Since Rain-X online (110) has higher contact angle than mineral oil (80), I would not apply Bead Up as drying agent or rinse for Rain-X because there is no additive effect.

I would use spot free to rinse off Rain-X.

 

[washnshine]

Thank you Robert.

I was under the impression from other operators, and reading through past posts on this forum, that although Rain x beads and sheds water and lasts very well once it is applied, it may not be great for setting the car up for an immediate dry after application. I recall reading it needed a "cure time" - and the seconds that it will take to go from the Rain x arch to the rinse arch to the blower may not provide the water break that a dedicated drying agent will.

Your description of contact angle makes perfect sense, but I am still interested to see if the Rain X alone will break the water enough without another product.

 

[rph9168]

You should actually be able to eliminate the drying agent on packages that include Rain-X if your computer will allow that. Almost all drying agents should be compatible with it especially at the rates you should be applying them. You should not need a heavy rinse after it. The cure time relates more to the Rain-X product for windows - not the super sealant.

 

[soapy]

I have been using rain X in my IBAs for years with no final rinse agent after the Rain X application other than spot free rinse water and it has always worked well at beading and aiding in drying the cars.

 

[robert roman]

“I recall reading it needed a "cure time" - and the seconds that it will take to go from the Rain x arch to the rinse arch to the blower may not provide the water break that a dedicated drying agent will.”

It’s not cure time but time for the polymer to bio-degrade to form hydrophobic or water hating properties. Whereas some polymers are designed to bio-degrade to form hydrophilic or water loving properties.

The greater of the contact angle of element in solution, the greater the water beading.

Rain-X online has a much greater contact angle than any drying agent. So, there is no need to use drying agent after Rain-X. There is no additive effect.

However, Rain-X is like drying agent. It must be applied in properly, the cleaner the surface the better.

Many operators (I did) use a secondary rinse of the vehicle prior to applying Rain-X, clear-coat or drying agent.

There are specs for arch, nozzles, proportion and pressure that need to be followed.

Skimping/using too much Rain-X online produces same effect as skimping/using too much drying agent.

Good flush with spot-free sets up the product for good drying.

My experience when using Rain-X online along with product containing mineral seal oil is it can produce smears on window glass. When it rains, customers complain their windshield wipers are streaking. It’s the oil.